Learn about Arizona's marijuana laws and past efforts to improve them

Arizona has some of the harshest marijuana laws in the country. Unlike most states, the criminal penalty for possession of just one ounce of marijuana can be a felony that carries a potential penalty of 18 months in jail and a $150,000 fine. A 2013 report by the American Civil Liberties Union found that over 55% of drug arrests or citations in Arizona are for marijuana possession and that blacks are 2.4 times more likely to be arrested or cited for marijuana possession than whites despite similar rates of use.

Polls gauging support for replacing marijuana prohibition with regulations in Arizona tend to show majority support. In a May 2013 poll, 56% of Arizonans supported legalization. A January poll showed 51% opposed, while a poll in February showed the reverse, with 51% in favor of legalization.

Marijuana’s status as a criminal offense is a distraction for law enforcement and needs to change. In 2012, over 90% of all marijuana busts were for possession, yet during the same year, 92% of all reported burglaries, 74% of all reported rapes, and over 90% of all motor vehicle thefts went unsolved. It's time law enforcement stop wasting time going after people who choose a substance that is safer than alcohol!

The state’s medical marijuana program recently improved with the addition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of qualifying conditions. On July 9, the Arizona Department of Health Services agreed to grant access for victims of PTSD, making Arizona the 10th state to do so. According to previous reports, the department began accepting applications for those suffering from PTSD on January 1 of this year.